Poinsettias Today Maintain Their Color Well Past The Holidays

Tomorrow will also be the beginning when poinsettias are being purchased to add to the holiday decor.

Years ago when I was just a kid, my parents would host a Thanksgiving dinner with some of their very good friends.  As a gift, the family would  arrive bringing  a large red poinsettia to be enjoyed through the holidays.  Well, back then (say 40 years ago) that poinsettia would be leafless by the time Christmas rolled around.   And those that maintained their bracts, were a source of discussion as, "Compared to last year's plant this one lasted to December 20th!"

The poinsettias of 40 years ago, just did not hold onto their leaves and bracts as they do today.

This past summer, in August, my parents still had the poinsettia from Christmas 2010 with most of the bracts still on the plant.   So, with deliberate hybridization, poinsettias have come along way and are therefore much studier in the average home environment. 

Here are some basic care tips  of poinsettias courtesy of  the Illinois Univeristy Extension Office.

Essentially their recommendations are:

• Be careful when transplanting the plant in the cold weather as just a few minutes outside could cause the plant to drop its bracts.  So wrap the plant during transport home.
• Six hours of light daily is ideal for poinsettias.  
• Poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible.
• Check the soil daily and be certain there  are drainage holes in the pots. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.
• Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month.
• Do not fertilize when the poinsettia is in bloom.

Do these things and if you are lucky you may have a poinsettia lasting through the summer---or as most people do--discard the plant after the holidays!